Automobile flow-line protector



A. W. GIBBONS.

AUTOMOBILE FLOW LINE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2|.192|.

1,397,680. Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

L lime/ffm; MW a ARCHIE W. GIBBONS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMOBILE FLOW-LINE PROTECTOR..l

Application filed March 21, 1921.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.

Be it known that 1, Anci-1in 17V. GIBBONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State orF Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful lmprovement in Automobile Flow-Line Protectors, of which the lollowing is specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automobile flow line protectors.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel means for rendering the iuel flow line of an automobile inoperative when the car is not in use, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the oar.

My invention provides a flow line having an easily removable and replaceable section.

My invention provides further novel means for preventing the substitution of another section or the removable section when the latter has been removed.

My invention provides further a device which is simple in construction, cheap to make, durable, not liable'to get out ot' order, which may be readily applied to automobiles now in use, and which is readily accessible tor manipulation by a person in the car.

The novel features ot my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preierred embodiment otmy invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation vof my improved device shown mounted in a car, a portion of the body of which is shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical sec tional view of the housing and parts connected therewith.

F ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3 3v of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4: is a cross section on the line /1-4 ot' Fi 2. v y

imilar reference characters designate similar parts in the dierent views. 1 designates an ordinary supply tank and 2a carburetor of an automobile. Ll and 3 designate respectively two sections oia fuel flow lineconductor connected to the tank 1 and the carbureter 2.

'5 designates the body oi a housing having its ends connected to thesections 3 and Ll and having a lateral opening adapted .to b e closed by a closure 6 hinged by a longitudinal pintle 7 at one longitudinal edge to the body 5. The latter is providedat the oppo- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 22, 1921. Serial No. 454,326.

site side with a longitudinal laterally eX- tending flange 8 having a hole 9 adapted to register with a hole 10 in a longitudinal flange 11 ot the closure 6. The holes 9 and 10 are adapted to receive therethrough the hasp 12 oi" a padlock 13.

lnsertible into and removable from the housing through the lateral opening in the latter, when the closure 6 is open, is an intermediate ilow line section comprising preferably the following described parts.

Two tubular members 14 and 15 each having imperforate sides, are slidably mounted .one in the other, the outer ends of said members being preferably conical and litted respectively to conical seats 16 and 17 provided in the housing body 5 adjacent to the ends thereof. The member 15 is provided with an axial opening 18 adapted to communicate with the section il and has mounted in it a central longitudinal 'tube 19 which is slidable in a central opening 20 in the member 14. The opening 20 is adapted to communicate with the .section 3. The member le is provided with a central inwardly extending tubular boss 21 which is externally threaded yand has fitted thereon a stufling box 22 which encircles the tube 19 and holds packing material 23 against the boss 21. The member 15 is normally forced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, by a coil spring 24 which encircles the boss 21 and tube 19 and bears at one end against the member 14, and at its other end against a collar 25 rigidly secured to the tube 19.

The Acoil spring 24 normally holds the members 1aL and 15 tightly against the conical seats 16 and 17 respectively.

ln order that the intermediate section may be contracted in length so as to be insertible and removable through the opening in the side of the body 1, the member 15 has mounts ed in it an inwardly extending pin 26 which extendsinto a spiral slot 27, provided in the member 111. A flange 26 extends outwardly laterally from the member 15, as shown in Fig. 4l, so that it will serve as a linger hold for turning the member, so as to compress the spring 24 and contract the intermediate section, so that the members la and 15 can be withdrawn when the closure 6 is in the open position.

Fixed in the housing body 5 is an inwardly extending pin 28, which extends into a lon itudinal slot 29 in the member 14. The pin 26 permits longitudinal movement of the member 14E but holds the member 14 from axial turning.

provided above the vfloor 30 with a shut offV cock 32 bv which, when 'the members 1li and 15 are to be removed., the floiv from the tank porary connection can not be made betweenV 1 may be shut off in t ie section 3.

By having the housing body 5V and the shut off .cock 32 located in the body ofthe machine above the floor, the device may be operated by ai person sitting in the machine. For permitting liquid fuel to escapefrom the housing 5, in case that the members-14 and 15 are removed and the cock 32V were opened, the body 5 is provided on its under side with a large hole 33, Fig. 2.

' in the Voperation of my invention, With the cock 32 opened and the parts in the position shown vin the drawing, the liquid fuel Will pass Vfrom the tanky 1 through thei'section 3, thence through the hole 20, tube 19, hole 18 and section 4 to the carbureter V2. Vllhen it is desired to remove the intermediate section of the flow line, the padlock is removed, and the cover 6 swung to the open position, upon which the member 15 is revolved on the member 14, therebyl drawing the latter into the member 15, thus shortening the intermediate section, so that the members 1d and 15 may be 'withdrawn Vfrom the housing body `5.V rlhe cover @may then be closed andlocked in the closed position by the padlock 13. Previous to the removal of the members 141 Aand 15, vthe,

cock 5 is closed.

With the members 14.- and 15 removed, the carbureter Qfivill be cut cti from the tank 1 so that the engine of the Vcar can not `be op erated by an unauthorized person. By having the cover G closed and locked, a tem,-

the sections 3and 11. ln case vany one tries to supplyV the carbureter with fuel by open ing the cock 32,'the liquid fuel vvill'pass out Vof the housing body 5 through the opening i the continuity of the flovv line. The coverV 33, which isvof sucient size to discharge therethrough any liquid fuel which may be discharged into theV body 5'fromthe secV tion`3. v Y

When it isr desired to again use the machine, the padlock 13 isV removed, the cover 6 swung tothe open position, and the menibers land 15, inthe contracted position, are ,slipped into the body 5 with the pin 28 extending into the slot 29. The member 15 is then turned by' means of thev flange 23- to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, inV

which position the members 14 and 15 `Will have their conical ends respectively fitted in the seatsV 16 and 17, thereby restablishing 6 may then be closed and lockedto prevent tampering With the members 1a and 15.V

Vthe spirit of my invention.

Vtwo sections respectively connected .with the Vl do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, vvithin the scope of the appended claims, may be made Without departing from VVhatjI'claim is. 1 i 1. ln a device of the ln'nd described', the combination vvith the floor of an automobile, of a fuel flovv line conductorr having a removable section disposed above said floor,

substantially as set forth.

2. ln a device of the kind described, the

`combination with the floor of an automobile,

tank and carburetor and provided: respectively With seats, and an intermediate section which isextensible and contractibler and which has its ends respectively fitted :tosaid seats, and yielding means for normally.y forc: ing said ends against said seats, substantiallyas set forth.

1. In a device of the kind described, the combination with 'a supply tank and1 a carbureter, of a fuel flow Vline conductor comprising two sections respectively connected with said tank and carbureter, and an intermediate section comprising two` tubular members slidably fitted one in the other and Y arranged to be respectively removably fitted in said seats, and means for normally.Y fore ing said members against said seats, substantially as set forth.

5. ln a device ofthel kind described, the combination with a supply tank and a` car? bureter, of a fuel lovv line conductor connectingV the tank andlcarbureter andl comprising two sections respectively` connected with the `tank and thecarbureter, a housing lio connecting said sections, andf an intermediate 1 1 5V said housing with its ends respectivelyl fit- .ted to said seats, Vsubstantially asset forth.

Y. In a device of the kind described, a housing having its ends-providedfvvith means Y forbeing respectively connected vto two sections of a fuel flow line conductor and having respectively adjacent to its ends two seats, and having a lateral opening and a closure from said opening, and having means for releasably locking the closure in the closed position, and a tubular flow line section arranged to be inserted into or removable from said housing through said opento said seats, and adapted to respectively communicate with said sections, substantially as set forth.

8. In a device of the kind described, a housing having mea-ns for being inserted in a fuel iow line conductor and provided adjacent to its ends with two seats, and an intermediate section comprising two tubular members slidably fitted one in the. other and arranged to be inserted into and removed from the housing, said members having their ends respectively fitted to said seats, substantially as set forth.

9. In a device of the kind described, a housing adapted to be inserted in a fuel flow line conductor and provided adjacent to its ends with two seats, an intermediate section comprisinotwo tubular members slidably fitted one 1n the other and respectively fitted to said seats and arranged to be inserted into and removed from said housing and adapted to communicate with said conductor when mounted in ,said seats, and yielding means for normally forcing said members against said seats, substantially as set forth.

10. In a device of the kind described, a housing having means for being inserted in a fuel iiow line conductor andv having adj cent to its ends respectively two seats, and provided with an opening and a closure for said opening, and means for releasaoly locking the closure in the closed position, an intermediate section comprising two tubuiar members slidably fitted one in the other and respectively fitted to said seats, and insertible into and removable from said housing through said opening, and yielding means ing and having its ends respectively fittedl for normally forcing said members against said seats, in which last named position, said members are adapted tocommunicate with said flow line conductor, substantially as set forth.

11. In a device of the kind described, a housing having means for being connected at its ends respectively with two sections of a fuel flow line conductor and provided adj a.- cent to its respective ends with two seats and having a lateral opening, an intermediate section comprising two tubular members slidably fitted one in the other and respectively fitted to said seats and provided with connecting means by which said intermediate section is expanded and contracted when one of said members is turned alternately in opposite directions on the other member, said members when mounted in said seats being adapted to communicate with said conductor, said members being insertible into and removable from said housing through said opening, a closure for said opening, and means for releasably locking the closure in the closed position, substantially as set forth.

l2. In a device of the kind described, a housing having means by which its ends are adapted to be connected with two sections of a fuel iiow line conductor and having adj acent to its respective ends two seats, and having a lateral opening, a closure for said opening and a drain outlet, releasable means for locking the closure in the closed position, and an intermediate section comprising two tubular members slidably fitted one in the other and respectively fitted to said seats and adapted, when mounted in said seats to com municate with said sections, and insertible into and removable from said housing through said lateral opening, and a spring arranged to normally force'said members against said seats, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARCHIE W. GIBBONS. 

